“Landman” became Taylor Sheridan’s latest hit series. While ‘Landman’ May Not Be the Most Accurate Show on TVthere are many things that make it so watchable, and one of the most subtly compelling examples is Jacob Lofland’s performance as Cooper Norris. Long before he bolstered Sheridan’s drama with his talents, Lofland appeared in the intense Civil War drama “Free State of Jones,” in which he was equally compelling, although he only had a few brief scenes.
“Landman” fans will surely have been impressed by Lofland. The young actor is a revelation as the ambitious son of Billy Bob Thornton’s Tommy Norris, bringing a naturalism to the role that shouldn’t seem out of place in Taylor Sheridan’s melodrama but only adds to the series’ appeal. Even though Lofland’s star is only beginning to rise with the oil drama, he is far from a beginner. Although you might think he came out of nowhere, he’s actually been acting since he was 15 years old.
Lofland was cast in Jeff Nichols’ 2012 drama “Mud,” in which he appeared alongside star Matthew McConaughey. It was an auspicious start for the youngster, who had never considered acting before but was cast after his mother spotted a casting notice in the local Arkansas newspaper and asked Lofland to fill out an application. “Mud” received plenty of critical praise, and while almost all of it was directed toward McConaughey’s performance and Nichols’ direction, Lofland stood out quietly. As with “Landman,” the charming, shy youngster didn’t have the slightest hint of artifice in his performance, and it launched a career that, long before his appearance alongside Thornton, would see him reteam with McConaughey for the somewhat neglected Civil War drama, “Free State of Jones.”
Free State of Jones is one of Jacob Lofland’s most overlooked films
Since beginning his career with “Mud,” Jacob Lofland has appeared in several high-profile projects and several that have gone unnoticed. Lofland played a small but important role in “Joker: Folie à Deux” and even starred in 10 episodes of the hit western series “Justified.” Lesser-known projects include a role in five episodes of Ray Liotta’s only western: the star-studded miniseries “Texas Rising” (streaming on Prime Video). Another Civil War example would be “Free State of Jones,” which saw Lofland once again appearing alongside Matthew McConaughey for a decidedly less famous but just as heartfelt drama as “Mud.”
This is not to say that “Jones’ Free State” was a complete disaster. The film was written and directed by Gary Ross (“The Hunger Games,” “Ocean’s 8”) and was based on the life of Southern Unionist Newton Knight. McConaughey plays Knight, who during the Civil War led a group of rebels against the Confederacy, establishing a mixed-race community in Jones County, Mississippi.
The film follows McConaughey’s Knight as he becomes a doctor for the Confederate Army but is fiercely opposed to slavery, preventing him from fully joining the fight against the Union. Lofland plays his nephew, Daniel Knight, who unfortunately doesn’t stay in the film very long. That said, he is an extremely important character because his death is what ultimately causes Knight to desert the Confederate Army and return home to Ellisville, Mississippi. Once there, he is forced to flee due to his status as a deserter and joins a group of escaped slaves to lead a rebellion and establish his little utopia.
Free State of Jones wasn’t a success, but its performance was excellent
During the “Free State of Jones” press tour, Gary Ross spoke widely about the difficulty he had obtaining financing for the film, which was a very passion project for the writer/director. He also had noble intentions, as he believed much of the Reconstruction era of American history had been inaccurately presented in the film. As Ross told /Film in 2016“[Reconstruction is] it’s not an area that most people study. In fact, the last films that did it, I think, were “Gone with the Wind” and “Birth of a Nation”, both of which don’t tell the truth. And so, the opportunity to set the record straight is something that appealed to me. »
Unfortunately, the end result wasn’t as well received as the last film starring Matthew McConaughey and Jacob Lofland. “Free State of Jones” was released in June 2016, which is just $25 million with a budget of $50 million and receiving mixed reviews. The film currently has a critical score of 48% on Rotten Tomatoeswith critics either mildly impressed by Ross’s attempt to accurately present the story or disappointed by the film’s long running time and its reluctance to interrogate the “white savior” narrative.
Still, most critics liked the performances, with McConaughey maintaining his post-McConaissance commitment to delivering some of the best performances of his career. Lofland, who changes his approach towards Cooper Norris before season 3 of ‘Landman’isn’t in the movie long enough to have been the subject of criticism. That said, his scenes once again showcase the actor’s remarkable ability to appear effortlessly authentic – something we’ll hopefully get more of when season 3 of his hit oil drama arrives, likely later this year.
